Wanted: Bright minds for sustainable development

A pressing issue, of high societal relevance, that is on the minds of young scientists all over the world is this: “How to raise the life quality of a growing world population without wasting resources?”

The topic of sustainable development has also been top priority for governments across the globe for many years, with Germany spearheading the movement in sustainability research. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is now holding its fourth Green Talents Competition under the patronage of the Federal Minister, Professor Annette Schavan.

Young international scientists working on cutting-edge projects in research fields related to sustainable development are invited to apply for “Green Talents — The International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development.”

If you are interested in becoming one of the 25 ‘green talents’ in 2012, visit the website: www.greentalents.de and submit an application form on or before June 10, 2012.
Winners will be selected by a high-calibre jury of experts from academia, public institutions and industry.

Criteria

The research field of the candidate and his/her scientific merits will be given utmost importance. The jury will nominate who have excelled in their field of research as scientists. Specialisations in areas such as renewable energies, environmental protection,
urban development, mobility research or climatology will be given emphasis over others.

In the Fall of 2012, the awardees will be taken on an approximately two-week tour, visiting reputed German research institutions and gaining first-hand insights into sustainability research in Germany. They will also have the opportunity to establish new contacts, discuss their research projects with experts from academia and industry, and actively contribute to the ongoing scientific discussion at the Ninth BMBF Forum for Sustainability (www.fona.de/en/index.php)

In 2013, the chosen candidates will be invited to spend an additional research stay of up to three months in Germany, to gain experience in an inspiring environment and to advance their work while establishing long-lasting relationships with partners from the German research and development landscape. For more information about “Green Talents 2012” including winners and activities of previous years, visit www.greentalents.de.